Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) perching in a wild rose bush in British Columbia
© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Picture
A true night owl
Hard to spot but easy to hear, the Northern Saw-whet Owl is among the most common owls within North America. About 20 centimetres in length and weighing under 150 grams, it is a relatively small bird. It can inhabit a range of habitats and can breed in deciduous as well as coniferous forests. Truly nocturnal, the Northern Saw-whet Owl gets active at dusk and almost entirely preys on small mammals. It gets its name for its distinct whistle which is reminiscent of the sound of sharpening a saw on a whetting stone.
Related Images
Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo) in wildflower meadow, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
A pair of adult bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) with chick at Yukon River, Yukon
Burrowing owlet posing in Cape Coral, Florida
Ruffed grouse resting on a branch in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ont.
An adult burrowing owl emerges from its burrow at sunset in Davis, California
Great grey owls in Montreal
Screech owl resting in a tree cavity, Massapequa Preserve, Long Island, New York
Snowy owl at Jones Beach, Long Island, New York
Bing Today Images
Camels at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India
Oct 30, 2025
Common raven sitting on a branch
Oct 30, 2023
Polar bear at the edge of Hudson Bay, Manitoba
Oct 30, 2022
Charles Bridge over the Vltava River in Prague
Oct 30, 2019
Common pipistrelle bat for Bat Appreciation Month
Oct 30, 2018
Rangoli and lamps during Diwali festival in India
Oct 30, 2016
